The Memphis appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1886-1890, 1887-02-23
NllIlDlTWN Hi TEAS
CONTINUES TO OCCUPY THE
SENATE COMMITTEE.
Strong Evidence Of Outrageous
Treatment In Washington Coun-
~ Being Brought Out.

WASHINGTON, February 22.-Judge
Lafayette Kirk, County Judge OF
Washington county, Texas, was ex-
amined by the Texas committee to-
day. Judge Kirk has acted since the
investieat on began as one Of the
counsel for the Democratic side, and
the course OF previous testimony has
seemed to put him in the position OF
chief defendant in the case. II was
he who was charged with having Wis
tied Fleweliyns Precinct, where the
votes were being counted, about half
an hour before the raiders entered, on
which OCCASION Devices Boiler was
killed and II was he who, in the in
dignRtion meeting at Brennan, intro
duced the resolution requiring certain
Republicans to cease certain line Ut
conduct or leave the county.
He was examined by Senator
Spooner, and the colloquies were at
times very spirited.
Judge Kirk, in reply to inquiries,
said he presided as it was his official
duty to do, over the canvass OF the
votes The Supreme Court OF the
State hsd decided some months pre-
yiously that the diamond shaped tick
cts (mary Of which were thrown out
in Washington county at the last cleo
tom were valid and copies OF the de-
cisions Of the court we're furnished
him. Asa matter of fact, however, no
occasion had aIiten within HE juris-
diction involving the gu stion In point
and he had never read the decision OF
the Supreme Court. Judge Kirk de-
scribed his visit to Chapel Hill, and
Flewellyns POLLING place, having left
BRENNAN about in the afternoon and
ridden thirty miles on horseback that
night to see how things were going.
These were strong Republican pre-
Cincts, but he had reason 10 believe he
would receive considerable negro
vote there. There was telephone
communication between Brenham aud
Chapel Hill. bu. he did notavail him,
self Of IL.
Witness was asked with regard to
kilograms he sent on election day. He
admitted that he had caused one TO be
sent and then remembered that he had
also sent one himself. This was ad-
dressed TO ID. ID. Bolton, father OF
Devices Bolton, who was killed at
Flewellyns. ID. d. Bolton was a fel.
low candidate on the Peoples ticket
with Judge XIX. To the best OF wit
ness recollection, his telegram was TO
the effect shat things looked bad" at
BRENNAN. He would not swear that
was all, but to the best of mis- knowl-
edge and belief 1t Yves. He did not
remember that the words "do your
work" were added. To the very beet
OF bis recollection they were not.
The examination upon this point be-
came very earnest, and Senator
Spooner's questions were put with
great rapidly and every conceivable |
form TO elicit positive declaration one
wav or the other.
Witness finally said he was not pos !
tive that he did not send such tele-
gram.
Mr.. Spooner with severity Are |
you willing 10 have those kilograms |
produced before this commitiee2
Mr.. Spooner (plaoing before witness
pad Of paper )--Wel cir, have you
any objection 10 writing an order to
the Western Union Telegraph Com
.pany to deliver up these kilograms?
Witness-I think the committee can
write that note, sir, II they want to do
1t.
You are not anxious then to have
the committee get
Senator Eustis Gnterrupting) Il
would certainly not advice the witness
TO do II.
Witnsss-The committee has pro-
cess and can
Mr.. Spooner-We will take care OF
that branch OF the case.
In respect to the citizens meeting
Of BRENNAN, witneas described his
action. He was called on several
times to speak, and did speak, declar.
ing In substance that II certain men,
naming Hackworlh, Moore, Glider,
Potter, Locsett aud Sohuelze, did not
cease their course OF action a commit
should be formed to visit them and re.
quest them to leave the county. Their
course had been designed TO arouse
tie passions and prejudices OF the
colortd people against the whites.
Witness had been informed that Pot
ter bad declared himself in favor OF
arming negroes 10 shoot white men at
the ballot box, Potter had since dis
avowed this, but witness did not know
II at the time. He only knew that
Bolton had been kile Tue others
we're offensive in their speeches, or
rather, not 80 much in their spe ches
AZ in fact that they were in the uAbit
OF applaudng the negroes in ,eir
own speeches. Descending TO par.
ticulars in reply 10 question, witness
cited the case OF colored man who
said to his fellows: "You can't eat
with the whites or sleep with them,
why do you want TO vote with them2 ?"
This had been laughed at and app aud
ed TO the echo by some Of the White
Republi ans named. Witness had
been lied about at these meet.
ings and often denied the priv lege
OF meeting the false charges on the
spot. The meetings were called by
negroes, but witness thought they had
no right to make false statements
about him ard deny him right to be
heard in reply. At one meeting he
told the white Republicans he was
determined to be heard II he re-
NAMED there a week. As conse-
quence the leaders took the band and
msrched tina meeting to another
place, while KIRK addressed those who
remained TO listen. The peoples
ticket as formed because since the
days OF reCons ruotion the taxes had
been excessive and the defalcations of
Republican officials large. The white
leaders attempted TO intimidste the
negroes into voting the Republican
ticket, and brought special Influences
to bear upon those who wanted to
support the peoples ticket. The
grand Jury had been in session since
the hanging Of the negroes, and would
be until March. r. p. Hackwoith,
brother OF the principal memoTialist,
and the Republican Justice Of the
Peace, Over the dead bodies OF the
hanged negroes, had full power TO in.
veetigate their hanging and IS much
right to summon witnesses and inquire
into the case as the County Judge
or grand jury. Thee was general
belief among the white people that